Short Summary

IN VIEW OF THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC PROBLEMS, THE 9TH INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS OF THE AFRICAN REPUBLIC OF NIGER WERE HELD YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) IN NIAMEY WITH ONLY A MODEST CIVILIAN AND MILITARY PARADE.

Description

IN VIEW OF THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC PROBLEMS, THE 9TH INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS OF THE AFRICAN REPUBLIC OF NIGER WERE HELD YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) IN NIAMEY WITH ONLY A MODEST CIVILIAN AND MILITARY PARADE. THE PARADE WAS WATCHED BY PRESIDENT HANANI DIORI AND MNE DIORI, GOVERNMENT MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS.

BEFORE THE START OF THE PARADE, PRESIDENT DIORI GREETED THE VARIOUS AMBASSADORS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS. THEN, ACCOMPANIED BY MADAME DIORI, HE TOOK HIS PLACE ON THE REVIEWING STAND WITH PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BOUBOU HANA, HEAD OF THE SUPREME COURT OUSMANE BASSAROU, MINISTER OF FINANCE COURMO BARCOUGNE, MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORT LEOPOLD KAZIENDE AND MINISTER OF RURAL ECONOMY ISSAKA MAMADOU.

ONLY THE NIGHT BEFORE (WEDNESDAY), PRESIDENT DIORI MADE A RADIO ADDRESS TO THE NATION, OUTLINING THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC TROUBLES FOLLOWING THE LACK OF RAIN DURING THE LAST SEASON AND THE DIFFICULTIES OF SELLING THEIR MAIN EXPORT -- GROUND NUTS -- ON WORLD MARKETS. OTHER PROBLEMS HAS BEEN CREATED BY A DROP IN THE PRICE OF PEANUTS; DELAYS IN URANIUM PRODUCTION; INSUFFICIENT 1968 FOOD CROPS AND HEAVY LIVESTOCK LOSSES DUE TO THE DROUGHTS. IN VIEW OF THE SITUATION, IT WAS FELT THAT THE INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS SHOULD BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM.

PRESIDENT DIORI RETURNED TO NIGER ONLY LAST WEEK (JULY 31) AFTER SPENDING A MONTH IN FRANCE DURING WHICH HE HELD TALKS WITH PRESIDENT POMPIDOU AND FOREIGN MINISTER SCHUMANN TO DRAW THEIR ATTENTION TO NIGER'S ECONOMIC SITUATION. A MEETING OF THE FRANCO-NIGERIAN COMMISSION IN SEPTEMBER IS EXPECTED TO DETERMINE THE RESULTS OF THESE TALKS.

THE PRESIDENT ALSO DECLARED THAT HE WAS READY TO GO ANY TIME, TO ANY PLACE, FOR ANY MEETING AIMED AT ENDING THE NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR -- AND, REFERRING TO POPE PAUL'S RECENT AFRICAN VISIT, PRESIDENT DIORI SALUTED THE EFFORTS OF "THE HIGHEST PERSONALITY OF THE CHRISTIAN WORLD ... TO TRY TO ESTABLISH A CLIMATE FAVOURABLE TO THE CESSATION OF THE ARMED STRUGGLE."